Add Variety and some Fun to your Workouts!

Winter Is A Good Time To Mix Up Your Training and Try Something New!

By Lorae McCall

 

After months of the same type of exercise your body becomes extremely efficient performing those types of movements and your overall fitness is limited. Rather than continuing to improve, you simply maintain your current level of fitness. To continue making gains you need to vary the types of exercise you do. Using several different activities to ensure total fitness is referred to as cross training. Not only does cross training improve your overall fitness, but by varying your workouts you will use your muscles in different ways and also engage different muscle groups. This will reduce your risk of injury from repetitive strain and overuse. After several months of doing the same activities, I sometimes find that I start to lose some motivation for my workouts. Cross training is a great boredom buster!

We live in an area that offers many opportunities for us enjoy the outdoors. Two great activities to try during the winter are snowshoeing and cross country skiing. We are fortunate to live in an area where we can do both of these sports right outside our door. These sports will build strength and endurance and will help your performance in the other activities that you enjoy. They are a great complement to what you are doing in the gym.

For snowshoeing, all that’s required is a pair of snowshoes and some winter clothing. You can purchase a set of snowshoes without breaking the bank, or some local shops, like EMS rent equipment. Cross country skiing is another great activity to try. If you have your own equipment, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (which runs along rt. 27 from Westford to Chelmsford), the Carlisle Cranberry Bog, and the many conservation trails in the area are great places to snowshoe or ski. If you prefer groomed trails for skiing, then check out Great Brook Ski Touring Center in Carlisle. If you don’t own your own skis Great Brook has equipment available for rent. Be sure to wear non-cotton clothing that wicks away the sweat from your skin so that you can stay dry. Water resistant pants, jacket and gloves will keep you dry and happy. So get outside and challenge yourself by trying something new this winter! Your body and your mind will benefit from a change in your routine. 

 

Lorae McCall  is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, and a USA Cycling Certified Coach